Big plans for Yarmouth's Sandy Pond rec area

Friday

Oct 14, 2016 at 5:00 AM

Conor Powers-Smith csmith@wickedlocal.com @csmithRegister

The last few years have seen significant changes at some of Yarmouth’s most popular recreation areas, including the new lodge ay Flax Pond and the dog park at Sandy Pond. If Recreation Commission members, Parks and Rec staff, and frequent users of the properties have their way, more major improvements could be in the town’s near future.

Interested residents met at the police station recently to see preliminary plans for possible improvements at three recreation facilities, drawn up by the Cambridge-based engineering firm CDM Smith. Besides further changes to Flax and Sandy Ponds, the commission has been considering additions to Peter Homer Park.

All three areas could use more surfaces for sports and other amenities, said Recreation Commission Chairwoman Dorcas McGurrin, but the plan is to focus on one as the department’s next major project. While each found some support among those who attended the meeting, the group reached a consensus that the plan for Sandy Pond would benefit the most people and represent the greatest improvement.

It would also cost the most, with an estimated price tag of about $3 million, as much as the other two proposals combined. For that cost, the site would be virtually transformed. Ten new tennis courts would be added, along with eight designed specifically for pickleball, a sport growing in popularity, especially among seniors. One full and one half basketball courts would also be added, along with an artificial-turf playing field. The project would include two playgrounds, one for toddlers and another for kids three and up, as well as a splash park, picnic areas, and shade structures. Plans call for a new, more centrally located restroom and concessions building, new overhead lighting, and more parking spaces, bringing the area’s total to 166 spots.

“You can fit a lot more on this site,” said Michael Dodson of CDM Smith. “This is one of the biggest sites we’re working with.”

Artificial turf would allow more teams to use the field, more often, Dodson said. “You can really maximize the use of this field, and not have to shut the field down to repair the grass.” With a few temporary adjustments of boundaries, the tennis courts could be converted for pickleball use in the event of a tournament, he added. “If we have the infrastructure for the tennis courts we could add more as needed.”

Parks and Rec Director Patricia Armstrong said lighting would allow the facilities to be used as much as possible, especially the playing field. “We should put lighting on any artificial field. That’s the whole point of having the field, to maximize use.”

Marcus Gherardi of Cape Cod ReUnited Soccer Club, a nonprofit group operating teams in a number of age groups, said a high-quality field could draw players from across the region, and prevent them from playing elsewhere. “We have players that are getting lured off-Cape to go to Plymouth, to go to Kingston, because we don’t have the facilities,” he said. “We have a lot of great soccer players and we don’t want them going off-Cape.”

Exactly how the project would be funded remains to be seen, said McGurrin, but Community Preservation Fund money would likely be involved. Next spring’s Town Meeting warrant may include an article earmarking CPA funds for the project’s design.

But CPA funds will not cover the entire project, Armstrong said. “We’re going to have to find some matching funds.” She mentioned naming rights for specific features and other forms of soliciting donations as possible sources of funds.

“If we were going to go ahead with a project of this size, I think we’d be asking the town to get behind us,” said McGurrin, urging those present to spread the word about the project. “If we’re going to get this done, we’re going to need your help. We’re going to need the help of a whole lot of people.”